How effective is caulking your windows shut for the winter compared plastic-ing the windows?
Putting the plastic up is a pain in my azz so I am trying to find alternatives, I am curious of caulking the opeinings and seams and cracks unitl i need to open them in the spring. Is there that much heat loss through the window pane itself? I assume the cold forces its way into the house via small openings in the entire casement. What do you think?
2007-10-12 06:11:16 · 7 answers · asked by Wes Mantooth 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
I know there is heat loss through the cracks, my question is whether its more effective to plastic the entire casement or to caulk it.
2007-10-12 06:15:28 · update #1
you need to do both actually
caulk any gaps with a flexible caulk to eliminate air leakage.
a single paine of glass has an R value of 1.0 Putting the plastic over the whole casement( its not that hard..use your hair dryer) will significantly reduce heat loss
2007-10-12 06:48:54 · answer #1 · answered by DoctorSchultz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heat loss is definitely higher through the glass!! Caulking the jonts and cracks will help, but use a caulking that you can remove!!!
You will save more energy by putting plastic on the windows one more year. Next spring, I suggest you look seriously at installing new windows!!
2007-10-12 12:03:53 · answer #2 · answered by Rawstuff 007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Test it for yourself. Take a candle that is lit and hold it around a window to see whether there is a draft. According to my utility provider's website heat loss through the glass can be significant on an older home. Besides, a rat can enter a hole the size of a quarter and a mouse the size of a dime, so look at sealing up the windows as rodent proofing at the same time that you are saving yourself from heat loss.
2007-10-12 06:13:42 · answer #3 · answered by eskie lover 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you caulk your windows closed you will have a devil of a job getting them open in the spring.
Heat loss through the glass is immense.
You are better to use foam-seal and thermal drapes, or look at double glazing.
2007-10-12 12:03:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are single pane windows, they will radiate the cold into the house. The plastic stops this. You can get removable putty to cover the edges that can be removed when the weather gets warm again.
2007-10-12 07:03:20 · answer #5 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you need to use plastic its time to upgrade the windows
the cold goes thru the glass
and the cracks
if you seal the cracks ,and the windows, this could be a fire
hazard , so re consider this ok
2007-10-13 15:51:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
there is a special removable caulk
dead airspce gives extra r value.
cokk them....good man!
2007-10-12 06:15:04 · answer #7 · answered by enord 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋